Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will visit Russia next week, a state-run newspaper reported on Friday, in a visit market sources expect to focus on the cash-strapped Arab state's energy, wheat import and financing needs.

Morsi will meet President Vladimir Putin for talks that would explore "ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in all fields", Al Gomhuria reported, citing an anonymous source.

The Syria crisis would be high on his agenda, it said. The presidency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Egypt is grappling with an economic crisis caused by more than two years of political instability. The country's foreign currency reserves are at critically low levels and the government is struggling with an unaffordable deficit.

Shortages of imported fuel are disrupting transport and causing power cuts in the country of 84 million. The situation is expected to worsen as summer approaches and Egyptians switch on their air conditioning.

The world's biggest importer of wheat, Egypt has cut back on international purchases this year in the hope of a bumper local harvest.

In a boost to Egypt's finances, Qatar this week agreed to buy $3 billion in government bonds and to supply natural gas in the summer when it is needed. Libya also signed a deal to give Egypt a $2 billion, five-year, interest-free loan, according to the Egyptian state news agency.

The government is also in talks with the International Monetary Fund on a $4.8 billion loan deal that would unlock billions more in international support.

WHEAT STOCKS

Several sources on European commodities and energy markets told Reuters the Egyptians may discuss financing needs and oil and wheat supplies during their visit to Russia.

"Talk is that an Egyptian delegation to Russia has both oil and gas as a focus," said one European trader. "Imports by Egypt with delayed payment seem to be on the wish-list."

Egypt's wheat stocks are likely to plunge below 1 million tonnes by June 30 as its economic crisis cripples purchases from the international market, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report said.

A second Moscow-based source said that Egypt also planned to discuss a possible $2 billion loan from Russia.

Russia, which is a net creditor, has been sought out by countries in financial difficulty that are seeking easier terms than those offered by the IMF - with recent examples including Cyprus and Serbia.

Egypt is likely to discuss wheat supplies from the next crop, as Russia has already run down the exportable surplus from last year's poor harvest.

Currently there is no clarity on the wheat supply volume, timing or payment method, the sources added.

Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov met with Essam Haddad, an assistant to the Egyptian president for foreign relations on Thursday, but wheat supplies were not discussed, his ministry said.

Russia's new crop is likely to arrive in June or July, its 2013 grain harvest is officially expected at 90-92 million tonnes with an exportable surplus of around 20 million tonnes.

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Flying Anvil

13-04-2013 11:28pm

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Don't worry

In 3 months there will be massive food riots, famine and total societal implosion in Egypt. Good luck with that.

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2

Farouk

13-04-2013 11:55am

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Presidental Travelling

Morsi is travelling all the time abroad begging always about money, money, money and swaggering about E-BRICS.
He will meet Vladimir Putin for talks to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in all fields. What Egypt can offer Russia seriously, local assembled tablets or a model how to clean of a total demolished, dirty and unmaintained country ?????
Why he is not going first of all to Thoska to be informed about the possibilities of harvesting wheat and others there instead to travel always abroad?? Since Mubarak I hav'nt hear and see anything about this huge irrigation project former government invest huge amounts of money there.

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Sharif Shehata

12-04-2013 08:07pm

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Hope

Mr President Mohamed Morsi wants to do all the best for Egyptians and to build up Egypt, but the key question is, Egypt imports oil,wheat,Food...etc, and after that Egyptians people pay for it plus VAT. So why is Egypt still in debt and borrowing money? Mr president Mohamed Morsi, The balance of Trade is not accurate. Now Egypt has $5 billion from Qater and Libya. If the Government spend $1.5 billion on Solar Power it will be better than to cut the Electric to save the Country money and energy. The money will be back to Egypt and will create a lot of Jobs.
Agriculture.
Egypt needs to copy Spain and to see how Spain Transform the desert to agriculture land by building Industrial Farming. Next time I will write about Corruption, Health and care and unemployment. Egypt needs to used their own resources and to sort out the problems. Don't cry for me Egypt, I am still your Son.
All we need to be honest and to do our jobs right. God save Egypt.